WO2011144821A1

WO2011144821A1 - Valve designed to indicate whether or not fluid is passing

Info

Publication number: WO2011144821A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/050989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giulio Epicureo; Chun Chi Liu
Original assignee: Cie Europe
Priority date: 2010-05-21
Filing date: 2010-05-21
Publication date: 2011-11-24
Also published as: CN102933884B; US10221004B2; CN102933884A; EP2572130A1; BR112012029645A2; WO2011144821A8; US20130112585A1

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a valve (100) for extracting, by pumping, a fluid (F) contained in a space (E), said valve (100) comprising: a) a main body (10) having a first opening (01) for the passage of said fluid (F) during pumping, and b) an indicator means (20) configured to indicate whether or not the fluid (F) is passing through the first opening (01).

Description

VALVE ADAPTED TO INDICATE THE PASSAGE OR NOT OF A FLUID Technical field

The object of the present invention relates to the field of containers for the storage and / or transport of articles, the object of the present invention relates more particularly to storage covers adapted for storing and / or transporting articles. large compressible articles such as for example textile articles (quilts, pillows, clothing, garden mattresses, etc.) by reducing their volume of space.

The object of the present invention relates more specifically to the field of valves specially adapted for such containers or such storage covers.

By valve is meant throughout the present description which follows all types of device a) which ensures in the closed position perfectly sealed sealing of a container such as a storage bag and, b) which allows, in the open position, on the one hand, the compression of the container and its contents with a view to its storage when sucking or pumping the air contained in its interior, and on the other hand, the decompression of said container and its contents when left said free valve.

By pumping means throughout the present description which follows all types of operation of pumping or sucking a fluid contained in a container so as to extract the fluid from the container. This operation can be performed by any type of pumping equipment such as for example a pump or a vacuum cleaner.

State of the art

There are known in the state of the art storage covers which are adapted to allow the reduction of the bulk of articles such as textile articles such as quilts, pillows, clothing, garden mattresses, etc. In this field, the applicant is the holder of the patent application FR 2008/055 988 filed in 2008; the plaintiff markets such storage covers, in particular under the brand COMPACTOR®,

Generally, in this type of system, it is first necessary to place in the storage bag an article such as a textile article which is by nature bulky and compressible.

In order to reduce the bulk of this article, it is necessary, by using a specific pump or a simple vacuum cleaner, to pump or suck through a valve the air contained inside the storage bag and the bag. article.

This pumping operation makes it possible to extract the air from the storage bag so as to create in this cover the vacuum or the almost empty space.

This extraction of the air contained inside the cover is particularly effective in terms of space reduction: the applicant is particularly satisfied with the results obtained in terms of space reduction with this kind of storage covers.

However, on this kind of covers, the valve systems used are simple, and their mechanism is relatively basic.

It has been found by the applicant certain disadvantages resulting from the simplicity of these valve systems.

Indeed, when, during pumping, the vacuum is created inside the cover, and the user continues to pump, the pump or vacuum cleaner, including its components, deteriorates.

More specifically, in this case, the pump or the vacuum pump vacuum cleaner, which can cause damage to the pump or vacuum used.

It is also possible that the structure of the cover tears if the material that constitutes it is not strong enough, and that is pumped for a prolonged time. It can therefore be seen that the valves known in the state of the art do not provide a satisfactory solution adapted to this kind of use.

Object and summary of the subject of the present invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective solution to the aforementioned problems among other problems; the constraints related to costs and manufacturing are obviously taken into consideration in the context of the present invention.

One of the technical problems that the object of the present invention solves therefore consists in proposing a solution aimed at improving pumping or suctioning; this simple solution, easy to use, aesthetic and fun, proposing a valve taking into account the constraints of lightness, strength and tightness related to reducing the size of the items contained in the cover.

For this purpose, the object of the present invention relates to a valve for pumping out a fluid contained in an enclosure such as a container or a storage bag, the chamber being intended to receive and contain an article such that a textile article.

The valve according to the present invention is particularly adapted to allow compression of the enclosure and its contents.

The valve according to the present invention comprises a main body which has a first opening for the passage of fluid during pumping.

Fluid means throughout the present description all types of liquids, gases such as air, or pasta capable of being contained in an enclosure such as a container or a storage bag.

The valve according to the present invention further comprises a signaling means configured to indicate the passage or not of said fluid through the first opening. Advantageously, the signaling means is configured to transmit at least one signal.

Preferably, the signal emitted by the signaling means is a light signal and / or a sound signal.

In the case where the emitted signal is a light signal, the signaling means comprises at least one light source such as an LED; in the case where the emitted signal is a sound signal, the signaling means comprises at least one sound source such as a "buzzer".

Advantageously, in a first variant, the signaling means is configured to emit a signal when, during pumping, the fluid passes through the first opening.

Advantageously, in a second variant, the signaling means is configured to emit a signal when the enclosure is emptied of the fluid and that the fluid no longer passes through the first opening.

In a variant as in the other, the user of the storage bag or the container comprising the valve according to the present invention is notified if the pumping it performs allows the extraction or not of the fluid through the first opening.

Depending on the indication provided by the signaling means, it may decide whether or not to continue the pumping of the fluid and the compression operation of the storage cover.

The valve according to the present invention thus makes it possible to intuitively control and control the pumping or suction so as to avoid any deterioration of the pumping or suction means caused by prolonged and too long use of these means.

Advantageously, the signaling means comprises a switch for controlling the transmission of the signal. The valve according to the present invention advantageously comprises a triggering means able to have at least two positions, a first position and a second position.

As mentioned above, the first embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the case in which the signaling means is configured to emit a signal when, during pumping, the fluid passes through the first opening.

For this first variant, in the first so-called rest position, the fluid does not pass through the first opening; in this position, nothing happens, the triggering means is not in contact with the switch.

Still according to this first variant, in the second so-called active position, the fluid during pumping passes through the first opening; in this position, the triggering means comes into contact with the switch, which causes the transmission of the signal.

In this first embodiment, the signaling means and the triggering means are arranged together so that in the first position, the signal is not transmitted, and in the second position, the signal is emitted.

The user of such a valve according to the present invention will therefore be able, intuitively, to determine whether the fluid pumping operation is effective or not by looking whether or not the signaling means indicates the passage of the fluid.

More specifically, if a signal is emitted, this indicates that it is still possible to pump the fluid contained in the enclosure; and if the signal is no longer transmitted, this indicates that the chamber is empty of its fluid, and that it is no longer necessary to continue to pump.

As mentioned above, the second variant embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the case in which the signaling means is configured. to emit a signal when the chamber is emptied of fluid and the fluid no longer passes through the first opening.

Alternatively, for this second embodiment, in the first so-called active position, the chamber is emptied of the fluid and the fluid does not pass through the first opening; in this position, the triggering means is in contact with the switch.

Still according to this second variant, in the second rest position, the fluid passes through the first opening; in this position, the triggering means is not in contact with the switch.

As an alternative to the first variant, in this second variant embodiment, the signaling means and the triggering means are thus arranged together so that, in the first position, the signal is emitted, and in the second position, the signal is not issued

More precisely, if a signal is emitted, this indicates that the enclosure is emptied of its fluid, and that it is no longer necessary to continue to pump; and if the signal is not transmitted, this indicates that it is still possible to pump the fluid contained in the enclosure.

Advantageously, the triggering means comprises a cup made of a light material able to move by its thrust force exerted on the cup by the passage of the fluid.

In other words, the cup is able to move when it is subjected to a predetermined thrust force which is caused by the pumped fluid.

Advantageously, the triggering means comprises an arm adapted to come into contact with the switch. Advantageously, the valve according to the present invention comprises a base which can be assembled with the main body and which is intended to be fixed to the enclosure in its interior.

This base has a second opening for the passage of air during pumping.

Advantageously, the valve according to the present invention comprises a guiding means adapted to allow the guiding of the triggering means.

Advantageously, the main body is at least partially made of a translucent material.

Advantageously, the valve according to the present invention comprises a closure element which is able to cover the first opening and which is arranged with the main body to allow hermetic sealing of the enclosure.

Correlatively, the object of the present invention also relates to a storage bag adapted to allow the compression and storage of at least one article such as a textile article.

Advantageously, the storage bag according to the present invention comprises a valve as described above, said valve for extracting, by pumping, the air contained inside the storage bag.

Thus, the object of the present invention by its various functional aspects and its advantageous characteristics overcomes the various disadvantages noted in the state of the art by allowing a control of the pumping or suction and thus avoid the various deteriorations noted with the valve systems identified in the state of the art.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description below, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3a-3b, which illustrate an embodiment of this embodiment which is devoid of any limiting character and on which: - Figure la schematically shows a perspective view of a valve according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1b schematically represents an exploded perspective view of a valve according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG.

- Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a storage bag comprising a valve according to the present invention, and containing in its interior a textile article;

FIG. 3a shows a valve according to a particular embodiment of the present invention in which the signaling means emits a signal when the air contained in the enclosure passes through the opening of the valve;

FIG. 3b shows a valve according to a particular embodiment of the present invention in which the signaling means no longer transmits signals; when all the air contained in the enclosure has passed through the opening of the valve.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention

A valve and a storage bag according to a particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described in the following with reference to Figures 1 to 3a-3b.

As a reminder, as mentioned above, it has been found in the state of the art that the pumping of the air contained in the storage covers with a view to compressing and storing at least one textile article may be subject to cause of deterioration of the pumping equipment.

Indeed, when continuing to pump or suck when maximum compression of the article is already reached, the various components of the pumping equipment can be damaged; moreover, it is useless to continue pumping in a vacuum. To warn the user of the pump or the vacuum cleaner that, during compression, the storage bag is emptied of its air is one of the objectives sought by the object of the present invention.

First, it is recalled that, by pumping equipment, must be understood throughout the present description which follows all types of device capable of allowing the pumping or suction of a fluid such as air contained in a chamber such as a storage bag.

For the sake of clarity, the following is used to express the generic term "pumping equipment" the term "vacuum cleaner". Of course, it should be understood that it can be any other type of means such as for example a simple manual pump, an electric pump or any other means for extracting air.

As mentioned above, the object of the present invention is especially adapted to prevent possible deterioration of the various components of the vacuum cleaner that may occur when pumping air contained in an enclosure.

The object of the present invention also avoids the user of the vacuum cleaner not to pump unnecessarily.

For this purpose, the object of the present invention relates to a valve 100 for pumping out the air F contained in an enclosure E, and more specifically a storage bag E; the valve 100 according to the present invention is intended to be positioned or fixed on the storage bag E.

Preferably, in the example described here, the valve 100 is a non-return valve.

In the example described here, the storage bag E contains textile articles C which are inherently bulky and which are compressible: it may be at least one duvet and / or a pillow and / or clothing, etc. Structurally, in the example described here, and as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the valve 100 according to the present invention comprises a main body 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the main body 10 of the valve 100 has a first opening 01 for the passage of the fluid F during pumping.

In the example described here, and as illustrated in particular in Figures 1b and 2, the valve 100 according to the present invention also comprises a base 40 adapted to be assembled with the main body 10 and intended to be fixed inside the cover E.

As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the base 40 of the valve 100 has a second opening 02 for the passage of the fluid F during pumping.

In the example described here, the main body 10 and the base 40 are assembled to one another by snapping. Of course, it should be understood that in the context of the present invention all other types of assembly can be envisaged: assembly by screwing, gluing, etc.

As a reminder, the user of the valve 100 according to the present invention must be notified if the pumping of the air F contained in the storage bag E is effective or not, in order to achieve the various objectives mentioned above.

For this purpose, the valve 100 according to the present invention comprises a signaling means 20 which is specially configured to indicate the passage or not of the fluid F through the first opening 01.

In the example described here, and as illustrated in FIG. 3a, in order to warn this user, the signaling means 20 is configured to transmit a signal! S, preferably light and / or sound, when, during pumping, the fluid F passes through the first opening 01.

Preferably, in the example described here, the signaling means 20 comprises at least one light source L such as an LED and / or at least one sound source B such as a buzzer. Preferably, the main body 10 is at least partially made of a translucent material so as to let the light pass for the mode in which the emitted signal S is a visual signal.

In the example described here, the signaling means 20 includes a switch 21 for controlling the transmission of the signal S.

Allowing automation of this command is characteristic of the present invention.

For this purpose, the valve 100 according to the present invention comprises a triggering means 30 arranged to cooperate with the switch 21.

In the example described here, and as illustrated in particular in FIG. 1b and 3a, the triggering means 30 comprises: a) a movable cup 31 made of a light material capable of being moved by the thrust force exerted by the passage of the fluid F; and b) an arm 32 configured to contact switch 21 during pumping.

More specifically, the triggering means is able to have at least two ON / OFF positions.

Thus, in the example described here, and as illustrated in FIG. 3b, the first OFF OFF position is a position in which, when the fluid F does not pass through the first opening 01, the arm 32 of the trigger means 30 is not in contact with the switch 21.

In this case, nothing happens.

As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the second so-called active ON position is a position in which, when the fluid F passes through the first opening 01, the cup 31 is raised so that the arm 32 of the triggering means 30 comes into contact with the switch 21.

In this case, the fact that the arm 32 comes into contact with the switch 21 as illustrated in FIG. 3a enables the S signal to be transmitted. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3a, when the user places the vacuum cleaner A on the main body 10 of the valve 100 in order to extract the air F contained in the storage bag E, and that the user switches on the vacuum cleaner A, the air F passes through the first 01 and second 02 openings, which causes the passage of the cup 31 and the arm 32 of the first OFF position to the second position ON.

In this second ON position corresponding to the "pumping" mode, the switch 21 will actuate the emission of the signal S so as to indicate to the user that the air F passes through the first opening 01, and therefore that the pumping is effective.

Then, once the compression of the article C is obtained and the storage cover E is emptied of its air F, the pumping of the air F is no longer effective: the vacuum pump "vacuum".

In this case, thanks to the signaling means 20 and the engagement means 30, the cup 31 falls back; the arm 32 is no longer in contact with the switch 21.

The triggering means 30 is in the second OFF position; in this OFF position, the signal S is no longer issued to warn the user of the pumping.

In other words, the stopping of the transmission of the signal S indicates to the user that the enclosure E is emptied of its air F and that it is no longer necessary to continue to suck.

It is understood that in the embodiment described here, the signal S is emitted during the passage of air F through the first opening 01.

Alternatively, and as mentioned above, it may be envisaged to provide another configuration in which the signal S is emitted in the case where the emptying of the storage bag E is reached and that the air F does not pass through. the first opening 01. Although not described here, this alternative embodiment is accessible to those skilled in the art who will simply need to switch from one embodiment to another reverse the arrangement of the components of the valve 100 described above so as to that during pumping no signal is emitted, and that once the pumping is finished the valve is able to emit a signal.

Advantageously, the base 40 of the valve 100 comprises a guiding means 41 configured to allow the guiding of the triggering means 30, and particularly facilitate guiding for the passage of the first OFF position to the second ON position or vice versa.

In the example described here, this guide means 40 consists of a simple hollow cylinder which allows the displacement of the cup 31 in its interior and which has on its height a groove for the passage of the arm 32.

Advantageously, as illustrated in FIG. 3a or 3b, the valve 100 according to the present invention comprises a closure element 50 which is able to cover the first opening 01 and which is arranged with the main body 10 to allow a hermetic closure of the cover of storage E.

In the example described here, the closure of the storage cover E is obtained by screwing the closure element 50 with the main body 10.

Thus, the user who has a storage bag E having a valve 100 according to the present invention will be able to perform an optimal pumping of the cover E and its contents C for compression.

In the embodiment described here, it suffices for the user to place the vacuum cleaner A at the level of the valve 100, then to pump the air F so as to compress the textile article C contained within the cover E.

Throughout the pumping, as long as the air F passes through the first opening 01 of the valve, the signaling means 20 emits a signal S which indicates to the user that the pumping is effective. Once the complete compression of the article is reached, and that the air F no longer passes through the first opening 01, the signal S is no longer transmitted, this indicates to the user that it is not no longer necessary to pump.

The solution provided by the present invention thus makes it possible to indicate to the user the passage or not of the air F through the first opening 01 so that the latter performs an optimal pumping and compression of the storage bag E and its contents C.

It should be observed that this detailed description relates to a particular embodiment of the present invention, but in no case this description is of any nature limiting to the subject of the invention; on the contrary, its purpose is to remove any imprecision or misinterpretation of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. Valve (100) for extracting by pumping a fluid (F) contained in an enclosure (E), said valve (100) comprising a main body (10) having a first opening (01) for the passage of said fluid (F) when pumping,

said valve (100) being characterized in that it further comprises signaling means (20) configured to indicate whether or not said fluid (F) passes through the first opening (01).

2. Valve (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling means (20) is configured to emit a signal (S), preferably light and / or sound, when, during pumping, the fluid (F ) passes through the first opening (01).

3. Valve (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling means (20) is configured to emit a signal (S), preferably light and / or sound, when the enclosure (E) is emptied of the fluid (F) and that the fluid (F) no longer passes through the first opening (01).

4. Valve (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the signaling means (20) comprises a switch (21) for controlling the emission of the signal (S), and in that the valve (100) comprises triggering means (30) capable of presenting at least two positions (ON / OFF), including a first rest position (OFF) in which, when the fluid (F) does not pass through the first opening (01) the triggering means (30) is not in contact with the switch (21), and a second active (ON) position in which, when the fluid (F) passes through the first opening (01), the triggering means (30) is in contact with the switch (21).

5. Valve (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the signaling means (20) comprises a switch (21) for controlling the emission of the signal (S), and in that the valve (100) comprises triggering means (30) capable of having at least two positions (ON / OFF), a first active position (ON) in which, when the enclosure (E) is emptied of the fluid (F) and the fluid (F) does not pass through the first opening (01), the triggering means (30) is in contact with the switch (21), and a second position (OFF) said at rest in which, when the fluid ( F) passes through the first opening (01), ie triggering means (30) is not in contact with the switch (21).

6. Vaive (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the triggering means (30) comprises a movable cup (31) made of a light material able to move by the thrust force exerted by the passage fluid (F).

7. Valve (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the triggering means (30) comprises an arm (32) configured to come into contact with the switch (21).

8. Valve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a base (40) adapted to be assembled with the main body (10) and intended to be fixed to the enclosure (E) in its interior, said base (40) having a second opening (02).

9. Valve (100) according to claim 8 attached to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the base (40) comprises a guide means (41) configured to allow the guiding of the triggering means (30). ).

10. Valve (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main body (10) is at least partially made of a translucent material,

11. Valve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the signaling means (20) being configured to emit a visual signal (S), characterized in that the signaling means (20) comprises at least one light source. (L) such as an LED.

12. Valve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the signaling means (20) being configured to emit a sound signal (S), characterized in that the signaling means (20) comprises at least one sound source. (B) such as a buzzer.

13. Valve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a closure element (50) adapted to cover the first opening (01) and arranged with the main body (10) to allow a hermetic closure of the enclosure (E).

14. Storage bag (E) adapted to allow storage of at least one article (C) such as a textile article, characterized in that it comprises a valve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, said valve (100) for extracting, by pumping, the air (F) contained within said storage bag (E) through a first opening (01), and comprising a signaling means (20) able to indicate the passage or not of said fluid (F) through the first opening (01).